Created: 01/01/2025. Should you have less than 23-weeks to prepare, please get in touch.

This Gravel Burn 23-week base-to-race day plan is for the beginner gravel bike rider/racer. Your goal might be to make it across the finish line each day within the cut-off time.

**The Gravel Burn is an exciting new gravel stage race that takes place over 7 days, covering 850 kilometres through South Africa's diverse landscapes. The race starts in the coastal forests of Knysna and heads into the breathtaking Great Karoo, a famously vast, semi-desert region. Riders will experience a mix of challenging terrain, including mountain passes and arid semi-desert landscapes, before finishing at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where they might even encounter Africa's iconic Big 5 wildlife. The event is designed to be a full-service race, meaning that you will have access to support stations, technical services, and comfortable camps each night. It's a unique opportunity to test your endurance and skills while enjoying the stunning scenery and local hospitality.**

Following the plan will establish a solid aerobic base, grow your sustained power and adapt your body for the back-to-back demands of multi-day stage racing. The nature/execution of specific workouts also improves and maintains bike handling skills, reaction time, pedal efficiency and leg speed.

The plan is power-based. Weekday workouts can be executed on an indoor trainer. When the weather is favourable, weekend sessions and skill sessions should be ridden outdoors and exclusively on the gravel bike, and even if it is on the road/tar.

When to start: 23 weeks before the event date, 26/10/2025.
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The Plan Layout

Five blocks (plus two taper weeks and one race/event week.). Each block has three weeks of specific workouts that vary in duration, intensity and frequency, and rest days. Week three is followed by a recovery week to shed accumulated fatigue and prevent overtraining and injury.

To optimize training, workouts are scheduled in a specific order to match expected fatigue, and allow for adequate recovery times based on workout intensity. Additionally, training nutrition and hydration guidance, and strength and flexibility exercises are included to enhance the overall quality of your workouts.

Day 1 of the plan starts with a functional threshold power test, and you will test and reset zones at least one more time as you progress through the program to ensure that you are training at the right level.
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Key Features

A supportive environment via email. Feel free to reach out for guidance or clarification regarding the training plan or your goals.

Easy to follow. RIDEANDRACE pre-built training plans are research-based combined with personal experience and practical knowledge. The plans and workouts are detailed and include some sport and cycling science terminology, but are entirely written in ordinary words and simple sentences.
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Should you have any questions or need guidance when choosing a pre-built plan.
Email: rideandraceinfo@gmail.com
Or use the contact form on my TrainingPeaks coaching profile page.

Website: www.rideandrace.net